I know there have been a few posts on the subject; but, as far as i know, there have not been many relevant responses.
Could people share their experiences re: teaching abroad without any further education [say, BA or less] versus teaching with a Teacher Certification or specialized MA (or more)?
I leave it vague as to which country ... where the Teacher Certification would be granted in order to have as many answers as possible. You can send me an E-mail privately, too. And, please only serious posts will be considered. Thank you

I have taught in Morocco, Poland, Russia, and Japan.
The only places where I needed a M.A. was at the American Language Center in Morocco as an intern (actually I had almost finished), and at a private secondary school in Japan, where a M.A. is required in order to be a full time teacher.

Last edited by Brooks on Thu Apr 03, 2003 1:24 am; edited 1 time in total

In Japan, you need a bachelor's degree to get a work visa. Period. It doesn't matter what country you are from.

However, if you don't have a degree, and if you are from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany or South Korea, you are eligible for a working holiday visa. This is limited to people 18-30 years old, and it has a 12-18 month time limit, depending on your nationality. WHVs permit part-time work.

Other ways to work legally in Japan include...
spouse visa, if you are married to a Japanese
dependent visa, if you are married to a non-Japanese with a FT job
student visa, if you are enrolled in a Japanese program (PT work only)

That said, universities in Japan require a minimum of a master's degree plus publications. Eikaiwas don't really care about your degree most of the time, so a work visa or WHV is ok. High schools, kindergartens, and elementary schools vary, but expect to need a bachelor's degree minimum.

In Japan, any teaching certification is a bonus, and in some cases it doesn't even make a difference in getting a job. It might tip the scales between you and a non-certified person, but it won't give you a larger salary.